Energy expert and former Member of Parliament António Rosário Niquice stated on Tuesday, July 29, that “the energy transition in Southern Africa cannot ignore the region’s heavy dependence on fossil fuels,” warning that abrupt changes could collapse economies and worsen unemployment.
Speaking at the Regional Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Climate Change, Energy Transition, and the Oil and Gas Sector in the SADC, taking place in Maputo, the expert emphasized the economic and social impacts that poorly planned measures could have, especially in countries like South Africa, whose energy system still relies heavily on coal.
“The energy transition must be seen as an inevitable process, but it cannot be rushed, or we risk collapsing economies that depend on hydrocarbons. Telling South Africa to stop using coal today is condemning thousands of families to unemployment,” the former MP stated.
During his speech, António Niquice highlighted that Africa is responsible for only about 3–4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet it is among the regions most vulnerable to climate change. For that reason, he argued that African countries must be allowed to continue exploring fossil resources while gradually building sustainable alternatives.
“The developed world made intensive use of fossil fuels to reach its current level of industrialization. It’s not fair to demand that African countries—still in early stages of exploration—abandon those resources without viable alternatives,” he argued, pointing out that 20 African countries have economies heavily dependent on extractive industries. Mozambique, he noted, is one such example: “We have confirmed reserves of 180 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. This potential cannot be ignored. It should be responsibly leveraged to finance the transition.”
He also underscored energy’s role as a driver of human development. “Without energy, there is no quality of life. Most of us grew up without access to electricity. We know what that means in terms of education, healthcare, and community empowerment,” he said.
Niquice further defended that parliaments should play a more active role in the energy transition—through oversight, policymaking, and drafting appropriate laws. To do so, he advocated for the ongoing capacity building of parliamentarians, “but with enough time to seriously discuss the issues, not just symbolic meetings in hotels.”
During his remarks, MP Gil Aníbal stressed that “the global energy transition must be conducted fairly, gradually, and with sensitivity to the economic and social realities of developing countries, especially in the SADC region.”
Representing the 5th Commission of the Mozambican Parliament (Agriculture, Economy, and Environment), Gil Aníbal emphasized that fossil fuels still play a strategic role in African economies. In this context, he argued that the phase-out of their use should not be imposed abruptly, as it could threaten economic stability and energy security in countries like Mozambique. “Ending the use of fossil fuels could have severe economic consequences for less developed nations. The transition must be just and benefit everyone,” he said.
The MP also pointed out that industrialized nations prospered thanks to intensive use of fossil sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas, and criticized the pressure on Africa to switch exclusively to renewables in a short time frame. “If European countries didn’t develop based on renewable energy, why should Africa have to? Our continent’s industrialization still depends on harnessing fossil resources,” he questioned.
Throughout his speech, Gil Aníbal highlighted Mozambique’s commitment to international decarbonization goals but stressed that the country needs financial and technical support to carry out an effective transition. He also underlined the importance of the Gas Master Plan and the National Energy Transition Strategy (approved by Resolution No. 61/2023), which aim to expand domestic gas use and promote investments in clean energy sources.
The conference—jointly organized by the Institute for Multiparty Democracy (IMD), Southern Africa Resource Watch (SARW), the SADC Parliamentary Forum, and the Mozambican Parliament—brings together parliamentarians from five Southern African countries, government representatives, civil society organizations, and international partners to discuss the challenges of energy transition and governance in the oil and natural gas sectors in the region. The event runs until July 31 in Maputo.
Text: Nário Sixpene
